Evaluation of the new digital goldmann applanation tonometer for measuring intraocular pressure

Purpose. to compare a new digital goldmann applanation tonometer (dgat) that measures intraocular pressure (iop) in 0.1 mmhg increments to a standard goldmann applanation tonometer (sgat). methods. this study included 116 eyes of 60 subjects. a single examiner first measured iop in triplicate using either sgat or dgat,which was randomly chosen. after a 5-minute interval,the next set of three consecutive iop was measured using the other gat. results. the mean iop measured with sgat was 16.27 ± 6.68 mmhg and 16.35 ± 6.69 mmhg with dgat. pearson's correlation coefficient was 0.998 (p < 0.01). the subjects were divided into three groups based on the mean iop: iop < 14 mmhg,14-20 mmhg,or >20 mmhg. the pearson's correlation coefficient within each group was 0.935,0.972,and 0.997 (p < 0.01),respectively. the difference within the three consecutive iop measurements (maximum-minimum) for dgat (0.72 ± 0.34 mmhg) was significantly smaller than those with sgat (0.92 ± 0.42 mmhg,p < 0.01). even in patients with equal iop (zero left-right difference) with sgat (n = 30),dgat detected iop differences between the left and right eyes (0.47 ± 0.31 mmhg). conclusion. compared to sgat,dgat measurements are highly reproducible and less variable. © 2014 yuta sakaue et al.